Suds-Fest Art Exhibition

Every September, Berman Museum of World History hosts one of Calhoun County’s most popular events: Autumn Suds-Fest. This annual beer tasting, food sampling event is always a sell-out. Attendees range from twenty-one to eighty-one, and come from all walks of life: businessmen, firemen, teachers, doctors, artists, office workers, university students, military personnel, small business owners, hairdressers, florists, and too many more to name. The draw is simple: great beer from a variety of vendors, delicious food from many area restaurants, and live music to set the mood. A ticket to the event is all inclusive (Designated Driver tickets will not have bar access), and the cost is more than affordable to all. Ask anyone who has attended Suds-Fest in the past and they’ll tell you first what a fabulous event it is, and then they’ll tell you to get your tickets early!

Following the success of last year’s inaugural Tabletop Art Exhibition, Berman Museum is once again offering artists a chance to display their work and earn a special half-price ticket to September’s biggest beer bash, Autumn Suds-Fest. Each of the 45–50 Fest dining tables will feature a centerpiece based around an original work of art. Artists who wish to participate will have a choice between two flat silhouette shapes, or “blanks,” to decorate: a “beer bottle” shape or a “solo cup” shape. The artist will pay an “entry fee” ($17.50, age 21+/all access ticket) which will be applied to the cost of a half-price admission ticket for the event* ($35/General admission rate). The artist will then decorate the “blank” in any manner or medium they choose** returning the finished piece by Friday, August 31, 2012. Upon return of the finished piece, the artist will be given their ticket to Suds-Fest – a guaranteed seat in an event sure to sell out! Artists may list this as an exhibition opportunity on their résumé or vitae, and will receive publicity through the Museum’s website and other social media, and through normal press releases. Throughout the evening of the event, the artwork will be offered for sale***, with proceeds to benefit Berman Museum. Questions? Contact Gina Morey at 256-237-6766 x 114 or gmorey@annistonmuseum.org.  

* If the artist fails to complete their bottle or does not return their bottle, the $17.50 fee will be forfeited and no ticket will be issued for Autumn Suds-Fest. 

** Full details, including Participation Agreement, restrictions, size of blanks and other requirements available at www.bermanmuseum.org, Autumn Suds-Fest sub-page. Blanks available for pick-up beginning July 29. One bottle/half-price ticket per artist. Must be 21 to participate, ID required.

*** Unsold pieces become the property of Berman Museum, and may be displayed in future events or sold to benefit the Museum. Artists wishing to take their own piece home must purchase the piece, as well.
 
All finished pieces will be featured on Berman Museum’s web site. Each piece will include the artist’s name, a short bio (2-3 sentences), and a title if provided. Any artist who wishes to do so may provide a link to a personal website, or an email address or other contact information. Artists may list this as an exhibition opportunity on their résumé or vitae. Artists will also receive publicity through Berman Museum’s website and other social media, and through normal press releases.

During the event, the works will be offered for sale to attendees, the proceeds to further benefit Berman Museum. A tag will accompany each piece, and will include the artist’s name, a short bio (2-3 sentences), and a title if provided. Anyone interested in purchasing a piece may give the tag and payment to a staff member, who will then mark the piece as SOLD.  Pieces may be purchased at any time during the event, however, no pieces may be removed from the tables before 9pm, or without the OK of a staff member. Unsold pieces will become the property of Berman Museum, and may be displayed in future events or exhibitions or sold to benefit the Museum. Any artists wishing to take their own work home MUST PURCHASE IT during the event.

To participate, visit Anniston Museum of Natural History's main reception desk (just next door to us in Lagarde Park) between 10am-4pm, Monday-Friday to fill out a participation agreement, pay your fee, and collect your "blank" to decorate. (Anniston Museum staff will be handling the Tabletop Art Exhibit, distribution of blanks and half-price artist's tickets for Berman Museum. Berman Museum will process all regular ticket sales for Suds-fest.) Each artist will pay a non-refundable fee of $17.50. This fee will be applied to a half-price ticket for that artist to 2012’s Autumn Suds-Fest. Fees will be assessed upon distribution of the blanks. Tickets will be given when the completed work is returned, no later than August 31. NEW PARTICIPATION DEADLINE: By popular request, all artists wishing to participate after Monday, August 27 will be given until Friday, September 14 to sign up and return their completed work. IMPORTANT NOTE: Participant who signed up prior to Monday, August 27 MUST return their completed work by Friday, August 31 in order to receive their Suds-Fest half-price ticket, as spelled out in your participation contract. One blank, one ticket per artist. You may print and fill out the Participation Agreement from this website, or fill it out in person at Anniston Museum. Please bring a photo ID. Proof of age is required at time of application. Other questions? Contact Gina Morey at 256-237-6766 x 114 or gmorey@annistonmuseum.org.   
 
*If the artist fails to complete their bottle or does not return their bottle, the $17.50 fee will be forfeit and no ticket will be issued for Autumn Suds-Fest. 

Guidelines:   Bottle Art Exhibit 

• A flat, silhouette shape of either a “beer bottle” or a “solo cup” will be provided to each participating artist to decorate. Artists may choose the shape they prefer while supplies last, on a  first-come first-served.  Both sides of the shape must be completed. Any medium is acceptable: decoupage, paint, mosaic, low relief sculpture, assemblage, etc. Be creative and have fun with it.
  • Flat dimensions of bottle shape: approx 6.625”to 7” wide at widest part with approx 22.5” of viewable area in height (28.5” total height, including non-viewable supporting base area).
  • Flat dimensions of solo cup shape: approx 11.75” wide at widest part with approx 15.25” of viewable area in height (19.25” total height, including non-viewable supporting base area).

• One bottle/half-price ticket per person. If you are picking up bottles for others, you must bring a separate completed and signed Participating Artist Agreement for each person, plus proof of their ages (photocopies of DL acceptable).

• No nudity, profanity, religious or social disrespect will be permitted. Finished bottles must be appropriate for all audiences.

• Works will be exhibited at the Autumn Suds-Fest, outdoors on table tops, and must be able to stand on their own, with the addition of a supporting “foot” to be added by Museum staff. The decoration of the bottle must not interfere with the ability of the piece to stand with the “foot” in place, or to cause the piece be too heavy/out of balance to be stable.

• A tag will accompany each piece, and will include the artist’s name, a short bio (2-3 sentences), and a title if provided. Anyone interested in purchasing a piece may give the tag and payment to a staff member, who will then mark the piece as SOLD.  Pieces may be purchased at any time during the event, however, no pieces may be removed from the tables before 9pm, or without the OK of a staff member. Artists MAY NOT take their pieces home after the show UNLESS they purchase their own work. Your signature on the exhibition agreement acknowledges your release of ownership of the work in exchange for your half-price ticket to the event. Unsold pieces will become the property of Berman Museum.

• All proceeds from the auction will benefit Berman Museum. Unsold pieces will become the property of Berman Museum. Any artists wishing to take their own work home MUST PURCHASE IT during the event.

• Artists will receive publicity through Berman Museum’s website and other social media, and through normal press releases. All artwork will be featured on a special page on the Berman Museum’s website, with artist’s name, short bio (2-3 sentences), title if provided, and artist’s contact email/personal website, if the artist so chooses.

• Each artist (age 21+, proof of ID required) who creates a work will receive in return a half-price ticket to the 2012 Autumn Suds-Fest, publicity through the Museum, and may list this as an exhibition opportunity on their résumé or vitae.

• To participate, each artist will pay a non-refundable fee of $17.50. This fee will be applied to a half-price ticket for that artist to 2012’s Autumn Suds-Fest. Fees will be assessed upon distribution of the blanks. Tickets will be given when the completed bottle is returned. If the artist named in the exhibition contract fails to complete their bottle or does not return their bottle, the $17.50 fee will be forfeit and no ticket will be issued for Autumn Suds-Fest.

• Artists must return the completed piece, ready for exhibition, no later than Friday, August 31, 2012.  

 
 
All Tabletop Art Exhibition business must be transacted at Anniston Museum of Natural History (just next door), Monday-Friday between 10am-4pm. Sorry, we cannot accept payment, distribute blanks, or issue tickets on the weekends, or at Berman Museum.
Artists may apply to participate now through Monday August 27. All finished works due back by August 31.

 (All general admission ticket sales for Suds-fest will be transacted through Berman Museum.)